China's real estate climate index stood at 101.86 points in July, 0.21 points higher than in June but 1.13 points lower than a year earlier, said a report released in Beijing on Wednesday by the National Bureau of Statistics.

The real estate climate index is a composite index reflecting the current situation and development trend of the real estate market in China.

According to the report, all the six sub-indices dropped in July, including the development in real estates, the source of capital this year, the area of land developed, the floor space of marketable yet unsold buildings, the average sales price of marketable buildings and the floor space of buildings under construction.

In the first seven months of this year, the national average price for commercial housing rose by 9.7 percent year-on-year. By the end of July, there were 106 million square meters of commercial housing left unsold and unused, up 8.9 percent year-on-year.

The report also reveals that 1.245 billion square meters of houses have been constructed during the January-July period, up 19.8 percent year-on-year. Besides, 96.63 million square meters of land has been developed, up 1 percent year-on-year.

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2005)